Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-25
THANKSGIVING DAY.
HOW THE ANNIVERSARY WAS OBJ
SERVED IN THE QUEEN CITY,
Union Services at the College Street
Church-Sermon by Rev. +. 6. MacFar-
lau-Rev. 4. y. HoplSinss Sermon at
st. Paul's - Unitarian Services.

lan-Rev. 4. y. HopIins's sermon at
st. Paurs - Unitarian Services.
Thanksgiving had its usual observance
in the good Old New England manner in
this city yesterday. In the early part of
the day the streets presented busy scene,
large number evidently having put off
final preparations for the Thanksgiving
dinner until the last moment. Our grocers
and market men had laid in a good sup
ply, however, and all had plenty This
statement is no figure of speech, for thanks
to the Howard Relief and other assocla
tions as well as to private charity, worthy
families were well provided for. Many
places of business were closed at the hour
for morning services to commence, and by
noon quiet as of Sunday reigned upon
the streets. The inviting sunshine con-
duced to a large attendance at the
churches and the day was as general
rule IN this city, one Of pleasure rs well
as profit.
AT THE COLLEGE STREET CHURCH.
The two Congregational, two Baptist
and Methodist churches united in a well
attended union service at the College street
Congregational church. Mr.. G. w. Davis
presided AT the organ, and the cOngrega-
tlonal singing was led by members of the
church choir. The opening exercises were
conducted by Rev. Mr.. Carter and Dr.
Hawes. The sermon was preached by
Rev. f. u. McFarlan of the First Baptist
church, and was an effective denial of the
statement, so often made, that "the good
old days" were better than the present.
Mr.. Mcfarlan took his text from l. John
iv. /, "Ge are of God, little children, and
have overcome them because greater is
he that is in you than he that is in the
world"
The custom of the harvest festival is an
old one. 1t began with the feast OF the
tabernacle by the Jews 1000 years ago
When the drought came cur fathers came
together and prayed. We seem to have
Inherited from this harvest festival the
idea that God concerns himself more with
our food and drink than with other things
and we are apt to look about for these
every day wants as did Robinson Crusoe
But do we do as much as he did ? On
his solitary island he looked about for the
cause of such manifestation of goodness.
Let us consider Gods mercy to our ma
tion. We must distinguish between the
true and the false prophets and
in the same way between Chris
tianity and heathenism Has our
nation any real true source of
were better taught in the good, old days
DID children 90 to church more then and
has there been decay? There may have
been good old times better than ours but
where did they begin and where did they
end The speaker repeated some state
ments made by Samuel Torrey, DIR, Ly-
| man Beecher, Cotton Mather, Increase
| Mather and others, showing that religion
from - to POO years back was on the de
cline. Surely the good old days We're not
at this time. Where did England look
for her best days, but back to the apos
| tolic agey AS We consider these things
they place us far ahead of where the pes
simist would put us. In the warning
which John gives he says that the light
that comes from the Fathers teachings is
real while those that come from other
sources are but flashes. The teachings of
so called philosophy with teachings of
/ Christianity concern us to-day. The
former full of confusion, each philosopher
reputing his opponents theory at the same
time he is advancing his own But in the
teaching of revelation everything is simple
and plain. There is but one conclusion,
to which nothing can be added and from
| which nothing can be taken away Com
fort is desirable but not at the price of
virtue. The truths which these Christian
teachers give have Il light from the Father
which is preferable for building us up to
the arguments advanced by false prophets.
Our children are born with the thought
that they have Il right to be independent
in their religious views. The elevation of
woman is another result of right think.
ing. Woman suffrage burlesques and re-
tards the movement. The abolition OF
slavery, humane treat tment OF animals, the
equalization of capital and labor the
crusade against the liquor traffic are
proofs that the good old days were no bet
ter than thepre,ent.
Generations OF devout men have OBJ
served the day of the harvest festival and
we to-day have reason TO rejoice in a ma
ton that has moral and religious inspira-
tions. Let us recognize our duty to God
and our fellowmen and as we gather
around the lireside let us remember that
greater is he that is in you, than he that is
| in the world"